Electric heater



G. C. WICKS ELECTRIC HEATER Oct. 26, 1948.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 18. 1944 Gercflda Cara Wncks G. c. wlcKs ELECTRIC HEATER Oct. .26, 1943.

:s Sheets-Shet 2 Original Filed March 18, 1944 Oct.'26, 1948. G. c. wlcKs 23,047

ELECTRIC HEATER Original Filed March 18, 1944 I 5 SheetsSheet 5 I gwua/rvbO b Geraldo C vo Wicks Reissued October 26, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE No. 527,042, March 18, 1944.

Application for reissue November 20, 1947, Serial No. 788,331. In Argentina February 5, 1944 12 Claims. (Cl. 219 39) This invention relates to improvements in electric heaters and a main object of the same is to provide suitable insulating means in the devices wherein the circulating water is caused to contact with the electric circuit, of such a kind that without any complication and while maintaining a system of direct passage, said insulating means will constitute an important improvement in the practical application of the same to heating devices Of any kind and in particular, to those used for heating the Water for bathing and showering.

A great number of different types of electric heaters are on the market, but heretofore, the most convenient type appears to be a construction in which use is made of an insulated electric resistance, as notwithstanding the rather complex arrangement of the means for heating and circulating the water, they oifer convenient conditions of safety, owing to the independence of the fluid from the electric current. As regards other types of heaters, i. e., those comprising electrodes and wherein the circulating water acts as a resistance, as well as those wherein the Water is placed in contact with elements of the electric circuit, though being substantially of simple construction and use, they offer serious drawbacks in their general operation, mainly on account of unavoidable current derivations which frequently cause shocks and other objectionable effects which the corresponding authorities and distributing companies are trying to eliminate by rejecting all those devices devoid of suitable conditions of safety.

The improvements which form the object of this invention, by contemplating the particular conditions above referred to, avoid the said dimculties in a most simple manner, so as to assure beforehand their adoption in connection with the different uses concerned, and in particular as a heating device wherein the heating compartment is surrounded by a protecting jacket.

Therefore, one of the objects of this invention consists in insulating the zone of the electrodes with regard to the real inlet and outlet of the apparatus by means of an extended channel with dielectric walls, so that any current derivations of the usual distribution voltage will be practically and effectively avoided, at the point of entrance as well as of discharge.

For that purpose, the inlet end of the heater casing. on the one hand, is connected to the general inlet opening of the device by means of a tube of rubber or other suitable material which, being arranged as a coil within said casing, is of a considerable length, while on the other, the outlet of the heater casing is similarly connected to the discharge opening of the apparatus by means of a coiled rubber tube of considerable length.

By means of this arrangement, several objects of this invention are attained, the most important of which consists in that a maximum degree of insulation is assured without necessity of separating the wall of the outer casing with regard to that of the heating compartment and thus allow of the construction of devices of moderate and even small size, in comparison with the heaters of known type.

A further object is to provide a heater offering a maximum degree of safety in its operation and thus assure its general adoption by consumers and its approval by the respective authorities and distributing firms.

The invention also has for an object to perform a perfect insulation, as before stated, without undue complication in the construction of the apparatus, more so as the connection of the device is affected by simple telescoping or by a removable attachment.

Another object still is so to construct the improved heating device that the same may be placed in position ready for operation by simple telescopic coupling, without use Of any supplementary means.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear when considering the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, represented by way of example and to facilitate its understanding, in the accompanying illustrative drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a sectional view of the assembly of the improved heater, showing the arrangement of the insulating inlet and outlet ducts or coils and the coupling nozzle of the device, of a type adapted to be applied to bibcocks or similar water discharging means.

'Figure 2 is an assembly View similar to that of the foregoing figure, but showing a section of the outer casing and the coupling nozzle only, so as to illustrate the arrangement of the rubber coils around the heating compartment which are entirely contained within the wallsof said casing, and

Figure 3 is a vertical section of the detached coupling nozzle, graphically illustrating the modification in shape allowed by its resiliency for adapting the same as a coupling means to the inlet end of the heater.

Figure 4 shows another modification f the heater, provided with the said improvements; but in this case the heater is of a type used for shower baths and no telescoping coupling nozzle is therefore required.

Similar numbers and letters of reference have been used to indicate like or corresponding parts in all the different views.

With reference to the drawings, a indicates the heating compartment, enclosed as usual within an outer shell or casing b from which it is conveniently insulated by means of dielectric supports, arranged to provide a double walled space between the said compartment and the outer casing.

The compartment (1 is provided with electrodes I and 2, conveniently spaced and connected to corresponding leads 3 and 4 of different polarity. The entrance of the leads 3 and 4 is suitably protected by insulating tube 5, of rubber or similar insulating material, extending first through the wall of the casing 17 by an eyelet 6 and then through the wall of the compartment 11 by means of the eyelet I; The leads 3 and 4 are connected to the distribution line by means of a plug device or the like.

By this arrangement, the electrodes l and 2, being suitably spaced, will cause the water which enters by the coupling nozzle 0 and passes to the compartment a, to act as an ohmic resistance and become heated to the desired degree for use, as in the case of heating devices of the usual type, although, in the same way, the circuit might be closed in a metallic resistance in contact wit-h the flowing water.

In accordance with the basic principle of this invention, the compartment a is provided with an inlet nozzle 8 and an outlet nozzle 9. The inlet nozzle 8 is connected in the usual manner to the coupling member 0 which forms the main inlet of the device, but instead of a direct connection, the same is established by means of a rubber coil I0. To this end, the coupling nozzle 0 which in the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3 is of rubber, for its telescopic attachment to bibcocks or similar Water spouts, is provided with a double flange ll, adapted for establishing a tight seal with'the annular flange l2 of the pre-chamber l3, provided with a suitably bent extension M for its connection to one of the end-s of the dielectric coil I 0, the coupling being held in place by means of a-collar I5.

The other end of the dielectric coil is connected to the other extension or nozzle 8, being held in place by a similar collar [6, so that the water which enters by the nozzle 8, will be obliged to flow first through a duct provided by the coil I 0, in order to enter into the heating compartment a.

The extension or nozzle 9 leads the water to the shower plate [1, but, the same as in the entrance, instead of a direct inflow, the water is caused to flow through a rubber coil 3. Said coil is connected by one of its ends to the nozzle 9 and is held in place by a collar l9, while at its other end, the coil I8 is connected to an extension or nozzle of a cavity 2|, forming part of the shower device H, the coupling being secured .in position by means of a collar 22. Owing 'to this arrangement, the water discharged from the compartment a will be obliged to flow through the rubber coil l8 before arriving at the final discharge outlet or shower plate [1.

The compartment a. is electrically insulated from the outer casing or shell b by the inlet and outlet connections which are established through a dielectric material in the form of coils Ill and I8. Derivation of current by the flowing water is also effectively prevented because the coils l0 and I8 have been precalculated in dimensions such as an excess of length in order to eliminate any possibility of shock or derivation between the compartment 11 and the outer casing 17, which latter, in consequence, may be constructed of metal or any other conductive material.

As the steam generated during a service should conveniently be exhausted after every use of the device and after stopping the inlet flow of the water, a tube 23, also of rubber, in order to maintain the necessary insulation, extends from the upper part of the chamber a downwards, in the usual way, to the shower plate IT, for exhausting the steam.

Owingto the flexibility of the tubes which form the coils Ill and I8, they will conveniently adapt themselves between the walls of the compartment (1 and the outer casing b, so as to strictly occupy the space usually provided between said outer shell and the heating compartment: this permits a construction of an improved heater of a small size, as will be appreciated by observing the em bodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2. Such a heater by means of its coupling member 0 may directly be telescoped on a bibcock of a wash stand or lavatory. In the case .of a bath heater, according to the embodiment of Figure 3, compartment a will be constructed of larger dimensions, so as to obtain an abundant supply of hot water.

Instead of forming a shower plate, the dis: charge outlet of the device may consist o f a simple nozzle, provided the connection to the outlet 9 of the compartment a be established through V a rubber coil I8. I

The coupling nozzle 0 is conveniently made-of rubber or other substantially resilient material and, as will be seen by referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3,-said nozzle 0 is formed with an upper cup shaped part, of which the walls extend upward and form, after being bent .in an inward and downward direction, an annular lip or rim 24 which extends downward to the cavity of the coupling member. 7

By means of the arrangement shown, the rim 24 is maintained at a certain distance from the portion 25 of the wall, so that an annular recess 26 is formed between said rim and portion of the wall, of suificient capacity to provide for the rim 24 being expanded from its normal position shown in Figure 3, to the position shown, for instance, in Figures 1, 2 and 3, where the coupling member 0 is telescoped on the spout 21 of a bibcock 11, whose section is substantially larger than that of the mouth 28 normally formed by the rim 24 when in its inoperative position, as indicated in Fi 3.

Under these conditions, when the coupling nozzle c is telescoped in position, the lip or rim 24 is expanded and will establish an effective adjustment of suflicient adhesion for supporting the weight .of the apparatus, without risk of loosening the telescopic fitting with the spout ,21. of the bibcock d.

Besides, as the water is being discharged by the cock 29., the liquid, by its own pressure, will gravitate in all directions and tend to enlarge the section :oi the said cavity and thus apply a supplementary adjustment .to the telescopic coupling, so as to absolutely prevent the same from slipping, to such an extent that to detach the same fromthe bibcock, the cock 29 must pre vlously'be closed inorder to annul the pressure exerted by the liquid in the manner stated; in consequence, the adjustment itself of the heater forms a seal of a tightness superior to any fitting device. v 4 7 Owing to the pronounced curvature of the walls electrically insulated heating compartment wherein the infiowing water is placed in contact of the coupling nozzle, asshown in Figures 1, 2

and 3, the'entran'ce 28 is provided with a flaring part 28" which facilitates the adaption of the nozzle etc the bibcock 21- and assists in its ready connection and disconnection.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the coupling member c is provided with ascrewcouplingdil or other suitable meansfor direct connection to a water main 3|. I

From theforegoing description it will be seen with the electric circuit, inwhich the Water inlet of the apparatus is connectedto the inlet of the heating compartment by means of a coil of dielectric material, and the'outlet of said heating" compartment is also connected to the general discharge opening of the apparatus by means of another coil, enclosed, as the former, within the outer casing, characterized by that the general inlet of the apparatus is formed with a pre-com partment having an extension to which is con" nected one of the'ends of the coil, which after a certain extension is connected at its other end to the inlet nozzle of the heating compartment, this latter being provided with anoutlet nozzle to which is'connected "one end 0t another coil of that an insulated arrangement of the heating [8, of rubber-"or other dielectric material, so as to oblige the wat'er which enters by the coupling nozzle c, to lflowfthrough the coil I0, enter into the com-partment a, and after becoming heated, to flow through the extension 9 of the coil l8 and be flnally discharged by the shower plate l1, without any risk of the fluid being allowed to constitute a conductor for an electric discharge.

It will be evident that when carrying this in vention into practice several modifications of construction and detail may be introduced into the improved heater, without departing from the basic principles of the same, as clearly set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Improvements in electric heaters, of the type comprising a general outer casing, enclosing an electrically insulated heating compartment wherein the inflowing water is placed in contact with the electric circuit, characterized by that the inlet nozzle, the apparatus and the entrance of the heating compartment are in communication one with another by means of a coil of dielectric material, while the outlet of said compartment and the discharge opening or real outlet of the apparatus also communicate one with another by means of another coil of dielectric material, both coils being housed within the said outer casing of the apparatus and surrounding the heating compartment.

2. Improvements in electric heaters, of the type comprising a general outer casing, enclosing an electrically insulated heating compartment wherein the inflowing Water is placed in contact with the electric circuit, in which the water inlet of the apparatus is connected to the inlet of the heating compartment by means of a coil of dielectric material, and the outlet of said heating compartment is also connected to the general discharge opening of the apparatus by means of another coil, enclosed, as the former, within the outer casing, characterized by that the inlet coil as well as the outlet coil are coiled and arranged within the space provided between the heating compartment and the outer casing and surrounding the former.

3. Improvements in electric heaters, of the type comprising a general outer casing, enclosing an dielectric material, which after a certain length is connected to a nozzleprovided on a collector chamber of a shower plate or of the general outlet of the device, both said eons surrounding said heating compartment.

,4. Instantaneous electric water heater comprising an electrically insulated cylindrical heating compartment, means in'said compartment 7 for establishing therein anelectrical circuit for i partment at a distance. from its peripheral Wall and beingprovidedin its top with an axial inlet 1 opening and in its bottom with an axial outlet heating of water by direct contact, an outer protective casing surrounding said heating comopening, a first dielectric tube coiled about the upper part of said heating compartment inside said casing and connecting said inlet opening with an inlet port provided in the upper part of said compartment, and a second dielectric tube coiled about the lower part of said compartment inside said casing and connecting an outlet port provided in the lower part of said compartment with the outlet opening of said casing.

5. Instantaneous electric water heater, as claimed in claim 4, in which said inlet port is provided in the peripheral wall of said compartment near the top thereof.

6. In an electric Water heater, a fluid heating compartment, exposed electric heating elements inside the wall of said compartment, inlet and outlet paths in communication with said compartment, and forming a fluid path therewith and comprising channels of dielectric material and of preselected dimensions so that the fluid flow through said channels ohmically resists communication of effective derivative currents from the compartment and formed therein by contact between the fluid and the heating elements.

7. In an electric water heater, a fluid heating compartment, exposed electric heating elements adapted to be submerged by the fluid in said compartment, a path in communication with said compartment comprising a channel of dielectric material and of preselected dimensions so that the fluid flow through said channel ohmically resists communication of effective derivative currents from the compartment and formed therein by contact between the fluid and the heating. elements.

8. In an electric water heater, a fluid heating compartment, exposed electric heating elements adapted to .be submerged by the fluid in said compartment, inlet and outlet paths in communication with said compartment and forming a fluid path therewith, at least one of said paths being comprised of a channel of dielectric material and of preselected dimensions so that the v aapnaam 1 fluid flvwtthroughsaidechannel ohmically; resists communication: :of. reflective derivative r currents from themcompartmentrandiformed thereinhbym I contactahetweenwthe fluidv and. the heatingtelee mentsam 9. In anlelectric water'heater a fiuid heating compartment,- heating meansv spaced-within the walls otsaid compartment a path in communicar tion witlnsaidcompartment comprising a channel of :d-ielectric materialtandtof tpreselected :di-.

mensi0ns;-.so.that the fluid flow. through said. channel-fin or from the compartment hasfohmic resistanceto prevent communication of derivative currentsin the fluid; of- .the compartmentsv 10. Inan electrictwater heater, afluidheating compartment, exposed electrically, Jive, parts adaptedtobesubmerged aby the fiuid'in said cornpartment, inlet and. outlet paths in communica- 1 tion withsaid compartment, and forming a fluid path therewithuand vcomprising:channels of dilive parts. e. 1

material and of. preselectedtdimensionsr. so i that wresists communication oiefiective'rderivatiwe cm i rents from the ,-compa.-rtmentmd.rormedtthareim compartment, exposed V electrically live parts ,adaptedto/be' submerged :bythe fluid insaidJcOme' 4 tion wit-htsaidcompartment .and Iorming; alflui .comprised..ofwa channelaof dielectric materiallandi compartment and f ormedltherein .byicontact hem: tween the-fluid and the said liveiparts.

j "The followingreferenceszaret'oiirecordsvincthazf 1 file of :this; patentirw r321? the fluid flow. throughsaidchannel z-ohmicaliyt by contact between vthe .fiuid. andathe-t saidfilive parts.

12. In an electric .water heater, afluidheating partment, inlet andoutletipaths inwcommunica path therewith, at least onesotsaidipathsbeing of preselected...dimensions, so that the .i-fluid flo thrgpgh said channelchmicallyxsists communi cation of effective derivative currents from the" GERALDO cmo: REFERENCESL"'CITED .1:

UNITED STATES PATENTS "1 I Name. Date 11. In .an electric water heater, -a.fluid:heatingi 1,403,594-. Duo Jam-11. 19 compartmentwexposed electric lly liv p rt 1,916,064: JMortensen June. 27,;1-933 adapteclito beijsubmergedbythe fluidin saidv com-. 2 032 21 Holt 25;,;. 93 partment,; =ampath in communication with said 30 v2,'044,634.-.p Rieder. ..June,15,1a36i,

compartment. comprising .a channel ,of dielectric. 

